12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



which produces an immense number of galls — sometimes closed 

 and sometimes partly open — and most easily recognized by the 

 yellowish or white maggots with a more or less developed Y-shaped 

 " breastbone " and a distinct head. 



Cynipid. An abbreviation for Cynipidae or gall wasps and also 

 used as a convenient designation for species not referable to well- 

 defined genera. The group is remarkable because of its producing 

 a large nmnber and variety of closed galls, especially on oaks, the 

 larvae being in individual cells imbedded in the plant tissues, head- 

 less and white. 



Dipt. An abbreviation for Diptera or the true flies and used 

 in this work where the more restrictive term Itonid can not be 

 employed. The young are headless, legless, usually white maggots. 

 The galls vary greatly in shape and structure. 



Hemip. An abbreviation for Hemiptera or true bugs which 

 includes a number of species not referable to the more closely limited 

 term Aphididae or plant lice. The galls are variable in appearance. 



Hym. An abbreviation for Hjnnenoptera or members of the 

 wasp and bee family and in this work applied especially to those 

 not included under the term Cynipidae. The Nematid larvae are 

 false caterpillars with numerous legs and a conspicuous head. The 

 young of the Chalcids are white and without head or legs. The 

 galls are variable in appearance. 



Lepid. An abbreviation for Lepidoptera or the butterflies and 

 moths. The young or caterpillars of the latter inhabit a number 

 of galls and may be distinguished from other gall insects by the 

 well-developed head and the presence usually of both true and 

 abdominal legs. 



There is no reason why many galls should not have well-recognized 

 common names. The writer has taken pains to use all those worthy 

 of perpetuation and, in addition, following suggestions from various 

 sources, has incorporated in the key a number of vernacular terms, 

 some of which at least, it is hoped, will become current. 



The abbreviated references following the description of the gall 

 give, first, the name or an abbreviation of the name of the author, 

 second, the year of publication (in case there is more than one in 

 a year they are distinguished by letters) and, third, the page. These 

 citations are given in full in the bibliography. 



The nomenclature used is that current at the time the manu- 

 script was completed, though a recent work: " The Type Species 

 of the Genera of the Cynipoidea or the Gall Wasps and Parasitic 

 Cynipoides " by S. A. Rohwer and Margaret M. Fagan (U. S. 



